Paul Gorry

Paul Gorry (born 1959) is an Irish genealogist, author and historian, known for genealogical research in the south-west of Ireland and the local history of West Wicklow. He was a founding member of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (APGI; now Accredited Genealogists Ireland, AGI), serving as president from 2007 to 2010.

Early life and education Paul Gorry was born in 1959 in Baltinglass, County Wicklow; son of Pat Gorry, a pharmacist, and his wife, Eileen.

Gorry's sister Mary, is an amateur golfer.

Career Gorry began working professionally on genealogical research in 1979, working initially as a freelance researcher for the Genealogical Office in Dublin, before going on to co-found Hibernian Research, Ireland's first independent Irish genealogical company. culminating in the Genealogical Office nullifying its recognition of Terence MacCarthy as the MacCarthy Mór.

He returned to Baltinglass in 1999, after living and working in Dublin for 20 years.

Gorry has been consultant genealogist for guests at Kilkea Castle since May 2025.

Gorry co-produced Baltinglass Hill & The Holy Year Cross, a documentary film directed by John Hughes, first screened in December 2025 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the erection of the Holy Year Cross in Baltinglass.

Involvement in genealogical and historical societies In 1979, Gorry became a member of the Irish Genealogical Research Society. He served on the committee of the Ireland branch of the IGRS from 1986 to 1989 and 1997 to 1998. and became a vice-president in 2017. He has held several WWHS offices since, including: minutes secretary from 1996 to 1998 and PRO from 2004 to 2022. Gorry became acting secretary in 2022 after the death of Donal McDonnell. Since 2023, he has been serving a second term as WWHS chairman.

In 1986, Gorry was a founding member of APGI. He served as secretary from 1988 to 1991, and president from 2007 to 2010. In 2022 he was elected a Fellow of the association.

Gorry became a member of the Society of Genealogists (London) in 1987, and was elected a Fellow in 1999.

He was originator of the Irish Genealogical Congress in 1989. This group held four congresses: in 1991, 1994, 1997 and 2001. Gorry served as the congress's chairperson until 2002.

Gorry was also a founding member of the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations (CIGO), and served as the council's chairman in 1993.

Publications Books Tracing Irish Ancestors (1997); [with Máire Mac Conghail]. Baltinglass Golf Club: the first 75 years: 1928 - 2003 (2003). Baltinglass Chronicles: 1851-2001 (2006). Seven Signatories: Tracing the Family Histories of the Men Who Signed the Proclamation (2016). Credentials for Genealogists: Proof of the Professional (2018).

Chapters 'O'Brien's Baltinglass origins' in Chris Lawlor and Donal McDonnell (eds), General O'Brien: West Wicklow to South America (Naas, 2006), pp 144-61.

Journal articles 'Wicklow biographies: Brandubh' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 1 (1983), pp 22-3. 'The family of Michael Dwyer' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 1 (1983), pp 30-6. 'The Valentine family—part 1: Origins' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 1 (1983), pp 63-9. 'Index to the Coolattin estate emigration records 1847-58' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 1 (1983), pp 78-85. 'Extracts from the Turtle manuscripts' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 1 (1983), pp 86-7. 'Main St. (south side) Baltinglass 1894 (compiled from Land Valuation Office Revision Books and Slater's Directory of Ireland 1894)' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 2 (1985), p. 8. 'The Valentine family—part 2: the Valentines of Donard' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 2 (1985), pp 22–6 [with A. E. S. Valentine]. 'The Greenes and Kilranelagh House' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 2 (1985), pp 48–51. 'Index to the Coolattin estate records 1847–58, part 2' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 2 (1985), pp 76–9. 'Review: Handbook on Irish genealogy: how to trace your ancestors and relatives in Ireland ' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 2 (1985), p. 87. 'Index to the Coolattin estate emigration records 1847–58, part 3' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 3 (1989), pp 91–5. 'John Thomond O'Brien day in Baltinglass' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 4 (2007), pp 83–5. 'Miscellaneous biographical notices relating to Baltinglass, appearing in newspapers, 1748-1904' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 6 (2011), pp 32–41. 'The changing face of Irish genealogy' in Local History Review, vol. 20 (2015), pp 89–98. 'Lathaleere – the evolution of a place-name' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 9 (2017), pp 11–25. 'Charles Maule Drury (1848–1939) – collector of folklore' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 12 (2023), pp 152–7.